'''York County, Pennsylvania''' genealogy and family history research page. Guide to genealogy, history, and courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, Revolutionary War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.

'''York County, Pennsylvania''' genealogy and family history research page. Guide to genealogy, history, and courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, Revolutionary War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.

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{{Infobox U.S. County

{{Infobox U.S. County

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== Historical Facts ==

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== York County Pennsylvania Historical Facts ==

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*'''Parent Counties''': Formed from [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]] County 14 October 1748. <ref name="HBG">[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50140092&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.''] (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), [FHL book 973 D27e 2002].</ref>

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*'''Parent Counties''': Formed from [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]] County 14 October 1748. <ref name="HBG">[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50140092&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.''] (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), [FHL book 973 D27e 2002].</ref>

*'''County Seat:''' York<br>

*'''County Seat:''' York<br>

*'''Neighboring Counties''': {{PAGENAME}}&nbsp;'''residents''' may also have records in <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Adams County, Pennsylvania" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_County,_Pennsylvania (accessed 17 July 2012).</ref>[[Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Dauphin]] (north) {{•}} [[Baltimore County, Maryland|Baltimore County, Maryland]] and [[Carroll County, Maryland|Carroll County, Maryland]] (south) {{•}} [[Adams County, Pennsylvania|Adams]] (west) {{•}} [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]] (east) {{•}} [[Cumberland County, Pennsylvania|Cumberland]] (northwest) {{•}} [[Harford County, Maryland|Harford]] (southeast)

*'''Neighboring Counties''': {{PAGENAME}}&nbsp;'''residents''' may also have records in <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Adams County, Pennsylvania" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_County,_Pennsylvania (accessed 17 July 2012).</ref>[[Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Dauphin]] (north) {{•}} [[Baltimore County, Maryland|Baltimore County, Maryland]] and [[Carroll County, Maryland|Carroll County, Maryland]] (south) {{•}} [[Adams County, Pennsylvania|Adams]] (west) {{•}} [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]] (east) {{•}} [[Cumberland County, Pennsylvania|Cumberland]] (northwest) {{•}} [[Harford County, Maryland|Harford]] (southeast)

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*'''22 January 1800:''' [[Adams County, Pennsylvania|Adams]] County set off.

*'''22 January 1800:''' [[Adams County, Pennsylvania|Adams]] County set off.

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== Resources ==

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== York County Pennsylvania Genealogy Resources ==

*The [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~payork/ York County USGenWeb Project] is a central respository for genealogical data and resources on the Internet, all of which are free.

*The [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~payork/ York County USGenWeb Project] is a central respository for genealogical data and resources on the Internet, all of which are free.

:*'''1708-1985''' - [http://hsp.org/collections/catalogs-research-tools/members-only-database Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985] at [http://hsp.org/ Historical Society of Pennsylvania] – $, free to members of the society; Also available at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2451 Ancestry.com] – $; 7,542,774 entries. ''This database is incomplete for all counties.''

:*'''1708-1985''' - [http://hsp.org/collections/catalogs-research-tools/members-only-database Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985] at [http://hsp.org/ Historical Society of Pennsylvania] – $, free to members of the society; Also available at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2451 Ancestry.com] – $; 7,542,774 entries. ''This database is incomplete for all counties.''

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:*[http://midatlantic.rootsweb.ancestry.com/familyhart/pictures/HarrySenft/ Custom Google Maps for some York County Churches] Most of the Cemetery Picture Custom Google Maps on this site have the addresses and phone numbers of the associated churches. For some there are also links to histories on the particular church.

:*[http://midatlantic.rootsweb.ancestry.com/familyhart/pictures/HarrySenft/ Custom Google Maps for some York County Churches] Most of the Cemetery Picture Custom Google Maps on this site have the addresses and phone numbers of the associated churches. For some there are also links to histories on the particular church.

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:*[http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/church.htm York County Church Histories] courtesy [http://usgwarchives.org/pa/york/ USGenWeb Archives]

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:*[http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/church.htm York County Church Histories] courtesy [http://usgwarchives.net/pa/york/ USGenWeb Archives]

:*'''1768-1896''' - {{RecordSearch|1681005|Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950}} - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is an electronic index for the years 1726 to 1930. It is not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records. This index is not complete for any particular place or region. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.

:*'''1768-1896''' - {{RecordSearch|1681005|Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950}} - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is an electronic index for the years 1726 to 1930. It is not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records. This index is not complete for any particular place or region. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.

:*'''1887–1896''' - {{RecordSearch|1589502|Pennsylvania County Marriage, 1885-1950}} Extracted marriage records – free. Most of the records consist of marriage licenses, certificates, applications, docket books, and affidavits. This database is incomplete for all counties. May also contain marriage records earlier than 1885.

:*'''1887–1896''' - {{RecordSearch|1589502|Pennsylvania County Marriage, 1885-1950}} Extracted marriage records – free. Most of the records consist of marriage licenses, certificates, applications, docket books, and affidavits. This database is incomplete for all counties. May also contain marriage records earlier than 1885.

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:*[http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/marriage.htm Some York County Marriage Records] courtesy [http://usgwarchives.org/pa/york/ USGenWeb Archives]

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:*[http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/marriage.htm Some York County Marriage Records] courtesy [http://usgwarchives.net/pa/york/ USGenWeb Archives]

:*[http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/death.htm Some York County Death Records] courtesy [http://usgwarchives.org/pa/york/ USGenWeb Archives]

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:*[http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/death.htm Some York County Death Records] courtesy [http://usgwarchives.net/pa/york/ USGenWeb Archives]

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== Web Sites ==

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== York County Pennsylvania Genealogy Websites ==

:*[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~payork/ York County USGenWeb Project] The York County, Pennsylvania USGenweb Project has an extensive collection of links for help in performing genealogy in York County. The Project also has many online extracted and original records.

:*[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~payork/ York County USGenWeb Project] The York County, Pennsylvania USGenweb Project has an extensive collection of links for help in performing genealogy in York County. The Project also has many online extracted and original records.

Revision as of 21:52, 4 March 2013

York County, Pennsylvania genealogy and family history research page. Guide to genealogy, history, and courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, Revolutionary War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.

Harry Senft York and Adams County Cemetery Pictures Harry Senft has taken pictures of 1000s of headstones in over 200 cemeteries in York and Adams counties that are ALL posted online. In conjunction with FamilyHart (aka Don & Jeanine Hartman), Custom Google Maps for each cemetery location have been produced so that the user can easily find the cemetery. An index of the cemeteries listed is also provided by name and by location. In addition, indexing of the actual cemetery picture files with links to the FamilyHart Online Databaseare being compiled. The FamilyHart Online Database contains over 719,000 linked family names, most of which have connections to York and Adams counties. This family database is the most comprehensive and complete listing of York and Adams County names on the Internet. It grows by about 1,000 names per week, and is updated online quarterly.

The York County Cemeteries USGenWeb site is a relatively comprehensive site for finding transcriptions and pictures of Tombstones in York County. Many of Harry Senft's pictures (and those of others) are posted here and are indexed by cemetery. Also found here are transcriptions of many cemeteries (some complete and many incomplete.) These transcriptions are valuable as they often include stones that are no longer readable and may not show up on photo images. Also many cemeteries have only transcriptions available. Neither this page nor the FamilyHart site are all inclusive for burials in York County but used together they provide the most comprehensive record online of burials in the county.

There are over 345 different cemeteries in the county. Finding the right cemetery is often compounded by the fact that many cemeteries have changed names over the years and are now known by a different name. A comprehensive list of cemeteries can be found at York County Cemeteries and Locations. This link does not have burials listed but is the most complete listing of all the cemeteries in York County.

Red Lion: Grace Lutheran Church; St. John's United Church of Christ; United Methodist Church

Springettsbury: United Brethren in Christ

Starview: United Brethren in Christ

Stewartstown: Presbyterian Church

Thomasville: Paradise (Holtzschwamm) Lutheran Church

York: Aldersgate United Methodist Church; Asbury United Methodist Church; Bethlehem United Methodist Church; First Church of the Brethren; J.O. Miller Memorial Reformed Church; Locust Grove United Church of Christ; Memorial United Church of Christ; St. John's Episcopal Church; St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church; St. Matthew Lutheran Church; St. Paul's Lutheran Church; St. Paul's United Church of Christ; Trinity Reformed Church (United Church of Christ); Trinity United Church of Christ; United Brethren in Christ; York Grace Charge; Zion United Church of Christ

Custom Google Maps for some York County Churches Most of the Cemetery Picture Custom Google Maps on this site have the addresses and phone numbers of the associated churches. For some there are also links to histories on the particular church.

St. James Church Lancaster Records for York, Huntington and Marsh Creek

Union Church, Shiloh

United Brethren in Christ (Now United Methodist), Hanover

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Blue Ridge District of the Eastern States Mission comprised church members living in southeastern Pennsylvania. District headquarters were in Lancaster, with branches located in Bucks, Fulton, Lancaster, and York counties.

Moravian

1758-1800 - York County, Pennsylvania, 1758-1800: First Moravian Church at Ancestry ($).

Presbyterian

1752-1790 - Records from Reverend John Cuthbertson's Diary, York County, Pennsylvania in "Private Church Registers to 1800, York County, Pennsylvania" at Ancestry ($).

1772-1799 - Records of Guinston (Muddy Creek) United Presbyterian Church, North Codorus Township, York County, Pennsylvania, 1772-1799 in "Chanceford Township, York County, Pennsylvania Church Records," at Ancestry ($). Baptisms, marriages.

Reformed

1744-1769 - York County, Pennsylvania Church Records, 1744-69: Jacob Lischy's Private Pastoral Record at Ancestry ($). Rev. served the following York County congregations: Lischy York Reformed, Kreutz Creek, St. David in West Manheim, Canadochly, St. Peter's, Jacob's, Strayer's, Wolf's, Emanuel's, Quickel's, and Friedensaal.

1745-1800 - York County, Pennsylvania, 1745-1800: First Reformed (Trinity) Church at Ancestry ($).

1855-1887 - Reformed Congregation at Dub's Union Church Baptisms, York County, Pennsylvania, 1855-1887 at Ancestry ($).

Court Records

York County, Pennsylvania Genealogy court records are housed at the York County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Courthouse. For many counties copies of court records may be found at the Pennsylvania State Archives and in the FamilySearch collection. Note that within these collections some films may contain the same records, but have different titles. Other titles are not duplicates. See Finding Court Records at other repositories within this section for links to the online catalogs for these two collections. Films at the Pennsylvania State Archives are not available for inter-library loan. If court records are available FamilySearch films may be ordered at a local Family History Center.

Again these are only indexes but will lead you to the location of these court records.

Court of Common Pleas

The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of Pennsylvania. Major civil and criminal cases are heard in these courts. Judges also decide cases involving adoption, divorce, child custody, abuse, juvenile delinquency, estates, guardianships, charitable organizations and many other matters. The Common Pleas courts are organized into 60 judicial districts. York County, Pennsylvania Genealogy County has its own judicial district. Judges of the Common Pleas courts are elected to 10-year terms. A president judge and a court administrator serve in each judicial district.[6]

Clerk of the Courts

The Clerk of Courts prepares and maintains the records for the Criminal Division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk signs and affixes the Seal of the Courts to all writs and processes, administers oaths and affirmations, and assumes custody of the seal and records of the Courts. The Clerk certifies and distributes orders of the Court. The Clerk also certifies and prepares bills of costs for the defendants and utilizes the computerized financial management system to disburse fines, costs and restitution.[7] For the York County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Clerk of Courts address see the Courthouse section on this page.

Prothonotary

The office of the Prothontary is the custodian of all civil matters in the county. This includes naturalization, immigration, equity actions, judgements, federal and local tax leins, city liens, family court, arbitrations, license suspension appeals, appeals to higher court, commercial code filings, applications for passports and divorce proceedings. See the Courthouse section on this page for the York County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Prothonotary office information.

Orphan's Court (see Vital Records)

See Vital Records The Orphans' Court is responsible for a wide range of matters. The name of the Court is derived from the more general definition of "orphan," that being a person or thing that is without protective affiliation or sponsorship. This would include those not capable of handling their own affairs, minors, incapacitated persons, decedents estates, nonprofit corporations and trusts. It is the role of the Court to ensure that the best interests of the person or entity are not compromised.

It is believed the name of this court was borrowed from the Court of Orphans of the city of London, England which had the care and guardianship of children of deceased citizens, in their minority.[8]

For York County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Orphans' Court contact information see the Courthouse section on this page.

Land and Property

Land records in York County began in 1749. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in York, Pennsylvania.

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts, indexes, mortgages, leases, grants, sheriff sales, land patents, and maps. Property records include liens as well as livestock brands and estray records.

The following are examples of available resources:

Online Land Records

1981–present Images are available online using the Landex system. There is a fee to view the images.

1749–1943The York County Archives have deed book indexes online (1749 - 1912 and 1913 - 1943). When searching these indexes you will be directed to PDF pages that have the grantee and grantor indexes. Instructions are given on the York County Archives page as to how to use the PDF pages that are generated. The PDF documents are quite large and take some time to download. These indexes provide you with the details needed to search and obtain copies of the original deeds.

PA Original Land Records The Rev. Neal Hively has done extensive land record compilations and land mapping of York and Adams counties with indexes available online.

Civil War Battle

Naturalization and Citizenship

Naturalization records can contain information about immigration and nativity. Prior to 1906, it is rare to find the town of origin in naturalization records. See Pennsylvania Naturalization for more information about the types of records and availability.

Naturalizations granted at the county level were kept by the office of the Prothonotary. Naturalizations could also be granted on the Federal Court level.

Obituaries

Obituaries are generally found in local newspapers where the person died. However, sometimes an obituary is found in the location from which he or she originated. To find an obituary, see the information under the Newspaper heading

Sometimes the fastest way of finding obituaries is to call or email the local public library in the area where the person died. If the library does not have newspapers, a librarian often will know where they are kept. If a death date is known, and the newspapers are at the library, someone on staff will usually make a search for a small fee, or will indicate someone who will do the search.

Periodicals

Poorhouse, Almshouse

Probate Records

Probate matters in York County, Pennsylvania Genealogy are handled by the Orphans' Court and start when the county was created. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse.

In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions.

Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts

Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as York County, Pennsylvania Genealogy probate wills in online catalogs like:

Bond Books (1794 - 1968) There is no local microfilm available. They are indexed and can be searched online at the Archives web site. These records originated in the Recorder of Deeds office. Bonds from 1749 - 1793 are found in Estate Files. After 1968 Bonds are at the Register of Deeds.

Estate Files (1749 - 1958) There is no local microfilm or index. They originated in the office of the Register of Wills/Orphan's Court.

Estate Files (1959 - 1967) There is no local microfilm but they are indexed and can be searched online at the Archives web site. These records also originated in the office of the Register of Wills/Orphan's Court.

Will Books (1749 - 1973) There are local microfilms of Dockets A - AA. These records are indexed. They are searchable online at FamilySearch - free. They originated in the Register of Wills office.

Repositories

Archives

The Archives was established in 1987 and moved to its current location in 1995. To accommodate the growing number of records, the Archives building was expanded in 2001.

York County's records begin in August of 1749 when York County was formed from Lancaster County. The Archives stores records for over 40 different county offices during various time periods throughout the past 250 years.

The Pennsylvania Archivescollection contains county archive records that can be searched onsite. Currently the Archives' staff cannot provide research or make copies of these records. Their collections include Almshouse Registers; Tax records; Birth, Death and Marriage Indexes and Records; Midwife records; African American records; Wills; Deeds; Naturalizations; Coroner's inquests; and Orphan's Court dockets. A list of the Archive's county holdings are on Microfilm or Manuscript form.

Courthouse

York County Government45 North George StreetYork, PA 17401Phone (717) 771-9288 Fax (717) 771-4678Offices of interest to genealogists include:

Court of Common Pleas: The Court of Common Pleas is the trial court that hears major civil and criminal cases. The Court also decides cases involving adoption, divorce, child custody, abuse, juvenile delinquency, estates, guardianships, and other matters.

Recorder of Deeds: The Recorder of Deeds not only handles real estate records, but the Recorder's office also records military discharge papers and notary bonds/commissions.

Most genealogy materials are in their Pennsylvania Room, including resources for Hanover, York County, and surrounding areas. It is one of the few libraries with a microfilm collection. The Pennsylvania Room's print materials are included in the York Libraries catalog; microfilm, however, is not. Click here for a list of microfilms.

Museums

York Heritage Trust250 East Market Street York, Pennsylvania(formerly York County Historical Society). From quilts to tiny photographs, the Historical Society Museum and Library houses both exhibits and an extensive research library. The Heritage Trust's Library and Archives houses an extensive and varied collection covering a wide range of topics including genealogy and family history, local history, the decorative arts and military history.

Police Heritage Museum54 West Market StreetYork, Pennsylvania 17401Phone: 717-845-COPSAmong other things, the museum has historic records of police officers, their departments, and the techniques and equipment they used. Only open a few hours.

Taxation

The York County Archives house tax records for the county from 1767 (with gaps) to 1988. Prior to the 1950's these tax records were listed under the tax payer's name and township and borough. Records since then are listed by name, address, location of property, account number, etc. These records originated in the Assessment Office of the Court House. They are available locally on microfilm for 1767 - 1850 and 1950 - 1988. These records are not indexed nor are they available at the Archives web site.

1779-1783 - York County USGenWeb Project The York County USGenWeb Project has the Returns of Taxables of the County of York for the Years 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783 online.

1779-1783 - Returns of Taxables of the County of York: For the Years 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782 and 1783. (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 21). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books - free.

Vital Records

Vital records are handled by the County Orphans' Court. Between the years 1852-1855 Pennsylvania made a failed attempt to record birth, marriage and death events at the county level. While the records for that time period are available, there were few events recorded. County marriage records were kept in earnest in 1885. Births and deaths, at the county level, were begun in 1893 and kept through 1905. Abstracts and copies of vital records are available for some counties, but most are incomplete. For the most complete set of records, always contact the County Orphans' Court.

Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.

Indexes for Pennsylvania birth records are available through the Department of of Health for 1906 and 1907. Once an individual is located in the index a non certified Birth certificate can be obtained by writing and sending $3.00 to:

1768-1896 - Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950 - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is an electronic index for the years 1726 to 1930. It is not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records. This index is not complete for any particular place or region. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.

1887–1896 - Pennsylvania County Marriage, 1885-1950 Extracted marriage records – free. Most of the records consist of marriage licenses, certificates, applications, docket books, and affidavits. This database is incomplete for all counties. May also contain marriage records earlier than 1885.

Early deaths 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.

Indexes for Pennsylvania death records are available through the Department of Health for 1906 through 1962. Once an individual is located in the index a non certified death certificate can be obtained obtained by writing and sending $3.00 to:

York County Pennsylvania Genealogy Websites

York County USGenWeb Project The York County, Pennsylvania USGenweb Project has an extensive collection of links for help in performing genealogy in York County. The Project also has many online extracted and original records.

FamilyHart Online Database, provided by FamilyHart (aka Don & Jeanine Hartman), has the largest collection of York County family genealogies online (Total database size over 719,000 linked names, most with York County ties). They also have a large collection of family photgraphs, documents, and headstone pictures associated with these families.

↑ Philip Syng Physick Conner,"Registers of the Anglican Church in Pennsylvania prior to 1800," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 12 (1888):341-349. For free online access, see WeRelate.